File 02 - Visitations

Identity area

Reference code

GB ARCHON 2913 PA30-02-02

Title

Visitations

Date(s)

  • 1974 (Creation)

Level of description

File

Extent and medium

15 letters arranging visits by the Bishop; mostly typewritten a few manuscript

Context area

Name of creator

(1976-1995)

Biographical history

The Right Reverend Alan Charles Clark was born of convert parents in Bickley, Kent on 9th August 1919. When young he contracted polio and was taken to Lourdes. He made a recovery and set his sights on the priesthood. He studied at the Venerable English College in Rome and was ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 11 February 1945 (The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes). He was involved in the Second Vatican Council as a peritus and was later to become the Vice-Rector of his old seminary in Rome. From there he would return to his Diocese of Southwark where he became Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christian, Blackheath, Kent before being selected as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Northampton with the Titular See of Elmham.

Bishop Clark was named the Co-chairman of ARCIC (Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission). As the first bishop of the new diocese, he had to set up all the necessary instruments and commissions for the diocese. The diocesan offices and diocesan tribunal were at The White House in Poringland near Norwich. This estate had been given to the Diocese of Northampton by the Birkbeck Family. It was the residence of the retired Bishop of Northampton, The Rt Revd Leo Parker.

Bishop Clark continued in office until his seventy-fifth birthday made it mandatory for him to tender his resignation to the Holy See in 1994. This was accepted on 21st March, 1995 and at that point he became Bishop Emeritus. He retired to a house built in the grounds and died in the 16th July, 2002 at the age of eighty-two. He was buried near the Slipper Chapel in Walsingham, Norfolk.

Name of creator

(1949 - Easter Sunday, 6-4-1980 (died))

Biographical history

1949-1962: PP at Woodbridge
1974: Parish priest in March
1977: retired from March
1980: died

Name of creator

(1974-)

Biographical history

Secretary to Bishop Alan Clark - pp letters from 1974

Name of creator

(1981-)

Biographical history

PP at March

Name of creator

(1980-)

Biographical history

Personal letter to Bishop Alan Clark about family matters and inviting him to stay.

Name of creator

(1987-)

Biographical history

Parish Priest in March in correspondence with Bishop Alan Clark

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Northampton Diocesan Archive

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Correspondence discussing Bishop's planned visits to March / Chatteris. Some contain an outline schedule for the visitation usually including an opportunity to visit (seriously) sick parishioners. Fr Smith asks bishop to consecrate the Church in 1978 (Comment: one lad said to his mother "I want to be a priest . Not a holy priest like Fr Hillier, but one like Fr Smith") (Bishop approves). 1980, Fr Smith opens discussion on papal award for a parishioner and comments that the parish is doing well. Bp secretary provides a description of process required for such awards [Bishop Clark's operation on 8-5-1980]; personal letter from Pat following a visit. Fr Bell, 2 months into the parish, invites the Bishop and to undertake confirmation for 12 children in the Summer of 1989.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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    Script of material

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      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      XEA 6 File 4

      Existence and location of copies

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      Status

      Draft

      Level of detail

      Minimal

      Dates of creation revision deletion

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          Accession area